floating vote

American  

noun

1. those voters collectively who are not permanently attached to any political party.

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Other Word Forms

• floating voter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of floating vote

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Naturally, the floating vote will hope for Portsmouth to strike a blow for the impoverished underdog against Tottenham.

From The Guardian • Apr. 11, 2010

The decisive vote is the "floating" vote which can be polled only by distributing, or allowing to be distributed, money for the precinct organizers.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the emergence of the neutralist "floating vote" as the decisive force at the U.N. was something the U.S. could only welcome.

From Time Magazine Archive

Like Mr. Tiernan in the first ward, Mr. Kerrigan was a power in the second, and controlled a most useful and dangerous floating vote.

From The Titan by Dreiser, Theodore

This was the great opportunity of Ames and his floating vote.

From The Boss and the Machine; a chronicle of the politicians and party organization by Orth, Samuel Peter